Cali Szczawinski, Meson De Mesilla owner, stands next to a piñata version of "Hotel Hell" host Gordon Ramsay at the Hotel's courtyard in Mesilla. The July 21 season premiere of "Hotel Hell" featured scenes from Ramsay's time at the Mesilla Valley hotel and restaurant. Szczawinski raffled off the piñata, which included more than 500 worth or merchandise. The proceeds will be used to buy bicycle safety equipment for those staying at the Las Cruces Gospel Rescue Mission. (Carlos Javier Sanchez — Sun- News)

LAS CRUCES &GT;&GT; Meson De Mesilla owner Cali Szczawinski went all out to recruit guests to her team before the premiere of the "Hotel Hell" episode featuring her restaurant and hotel.

Celebrity chef and "Hotel Hell" star Gordon Ramsay's skewed and misshapen likeness was blazoned on fans and glasses. A giant piñata of Ramsay went to the highest bidder. Waiters and bartenders wore T-shirts with "I work for Cher" printed on the front, making light of Ramsay's jab that singer Szczawinski thinks she is the famous star. Szczawinski herself wore a shirt with "Cher? Patsy? Stevie? Cali? Hell ... I don't know who I am." Then there was the drink: The Effen Ramsay, a meld of Effen cucumber vodka, watermelon, jalapeño and sweet and sour, named for the PG version of one of Ramsay's favorite profanities.

Meson de Mesilla bartenders Sarah Lopez and Rudy Lopez serve Effen Ramsays, a custom drink created for the watch party of the "Hotel Hell" premiere Monday night at the Mesilla hotel. (Steve Macintyre — For the Sun-News)

Meson De Mesilla, 1891 Avenida de Mesilla, kicked off the Fox reality show's second season, and it was every bit as dramatic as expected.

Ramsay — who is also the star of "Kitchen Nightmares," "Hell's Kitchen" and "MasterChef" — visited the restaurant and hotel last summer. He criticized the hotel's Tuscan decor, slammed the food and laughed at Szczawinski's singing. The notoriously brutal critic declared the pool unclean and lamented the lack of breakfast and native New Mexican food on the menu.

Ramsay claimed Szczawinski focused more on her singing than on her guests.

"The biggest issue you have is understanding who's No. 1," Ramsay told her. "The guests have to be No. 1, not Cali. ... If you can change that, this place has every bit a chance of becoming a big success."

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Szczawinski broke down at times under the weight of the criticism, and she excused herself from the watch party shortly before the premier began, not wanting to relive the experience. Maybe some day she'll watch it, she said before exiting.

"But I think I'll let my customers watch it first and see what they say," she said. "I already went through it."

Meson de Mesilla patron Merrie Lee Soules watches the premiere Monday night of "Hotel Hell" where show host Gordon Ramsay featured Meson de Mesilla Hotel and Bar during a taping last June 2013. (STEVE MACINTYRE — FOR THE SUN-NEWS)

Ramsay altered a few aspects of the hotel during his stay, including adding the locale's name to the front of the building and updating some bedrooms and the pool area. Some of Ramsay's changes didn't stick — like the breakfast buffet of New Mexico foods, some of the pool furnishings and menu items.

One small change was the switch to an emphasis on Southwestern rather than Italian decor at Ramsay's urging. Sepia photos of Las Cruces and Mesilla now line the lounge walls, replacing fake grapes and photos of Italy.

But the biggest change ahead may be the result of Ramsay's instance that Szczawinski abandon her singing career. Szczawinski called Monday's performance her last at the hotel, at least for awhile. She plans to recruit a variety of acts instead, she said.

"I don't need a career," Szczawinski said in the show, gesturing to the hotel. "This is my career."

Lindsey Anderson can be reached at 575-541-5462.

Joann Russell, a patron of Meson De Mesilla, holds up a custom Gordon Ramsay cocktail glass and cardboard face during the premiere of "Hotel Hell," which featured Meson de Mesilla Hotel and Bar in its season premiere. There was a viewing party Monday night in the hotel dining room. (Steve MacIntyre — For the Sun-News)